The Delhi High Court ordered on Tuesday that activist Sonam Wangchuk be transferred from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital [1].
The decision follows a legal battle over the care and detention of the Ladakhi activist, who has been on a hunger strike. The move to a private facility of his choice represents a judicial intervention in the medical management of a high-profile political dissident.
Dr. Gitanjali Angmo, Wangchuk's wife, petitioned the court for the transfer. She alleged that her husband was being illegally detained under the guise of medical treatment and argued that he required the superior care available at a private institution [2, 4].
During the proceedings, Angmo expressed a lack of trust in the existing arrangements. "I have lost faith," Angmo said [2].
The court ruled that Wangchuk could be moved to Medanta, which was identified as the hospital of his choice [3]. This transition shifts his care from a state-run facility to a private one, addressing the concerns raised by his family regarding his health and legal status.
Following the ruling, Angmo thanked the court for the decision. "Thank you for the favourable order," Angmo said [5].
The activist's health has been a point of contention as he continues his protest for Ladakhi rights. The court's order ensures that the medical facility providing treatment is one approved by the patient and his legal representatives [1, 3].
“"I have lost faith."”
This judicial order highlights the tension between state security measures and the individual right to medical autonomy for political activists. By allowing the transfer to a private facility, the court has effectively countered the allegation that medical hospitalization was being used as a tool for illegal detention.
